Hack Weeks in tech firms are largely ways for staff to think outside the structural parameters of their workplace. However, sometimes what emerges may result in practical, financially rewarding alternatives for employers.

“The goal for this product is to prove that we can achieve lossless compression for JPEG images and H.264 videos,” explained Horn to Fast Company.

“If successful, we can use this technology to save larger files in even less space.”

Considering Dropbox is there to store content, the reduction of file sizes can make things markedly better.

“I view it as building a greener Dropbox,” Horn said. “Using fewer hard drives to save space means mining fewer minerals to build those hard drives and burning less power to run their supporting machinery.”